Centrifugal speed reminder



Oct. 21, 1958 H. l.. HALEY CENTEIEUGAE SPEED REMINDER Filed April 25, 1955 gli OPER/77E W00 70 S/GAWL WND 1N VENTOR MERY/Muy ATTORNEY United States Patent CENTRIFUGAL SPEED REMINDER Harry L. Haley, Danville, Va.

Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,697

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-80) This invention relates to speed indicating devices and more particularly to a reminder system which will indicate to a vehicle operator that the vehicle has reached a predetermined speed. l

A number of devices of this type have been invented in the past but none has been completely satisfactory so as to be saleable and reliable. The disadvantages of the prior devices have been several. In many of the devices it is not possible conveniently to select the speed at which the operator wishes to have the reminder signal actuated. The prior devices are also subject to the disadvantage that their construction requires an excessive number of parts and such complication renders the device prohibitively expensive and subject to failure.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior `devices by providing an extremely simple mechanical arrangement as well as a very simple electrical circuit.

The arrangement consists of a centrifugal device which drives a contact in a linear direction and a second contact which is mounted on an insulating base with means for moving the second contact in a linear direction. The centrifugal device is connected to the speedometer cable and the second contact is selectively operated by a control knob from the automobile dashboard.

it is an object of the invention to provide a speed reminder system which is simple in construction and operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a reminder system in which the desired speed at which the signal is to operate can be conveniently operated from a control knob on the dashboard of the vehicle so that the speed at which the signal will be energized can be set even when the vehicle is being operated.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a circuit diagram of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the complete assembly,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, showing the operating parts of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The very simple electrical circuit required for the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l. The vehicle battery serves as a power supply for the circuit. A signal 12, such as a buzzer or a lamp, is connected to the power supply 10 and is in series with an automatic switch 14. The automatic switch may conveniently be a bimetal which intermittently opens'and closes the circuit as it heats up and cools down respectively.

The circuit is completed by an adjustable switch 16 consisting of a movable contact 18 which can be set in any selected position depending upon the speed at which the operator wishes the alarm to operate. A second conice tact 20 is movable with respect to the rst contact 18 and is driven in a linear direction by a centrifugal operated drive means connected to the speedometer cable of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the components of the invention could be arranged on a vehicle. The vehicle speedometer is indicated at 22 and is normally operated by speedometer cable 24. Interposed between the speedometer 22 and cable 24 is a casing 26 housing the adjustable switch 16 and the centrifugal drive means. The automatic switch and signal are disposed in a casing 28 connected to the adjustable switch 16 by a conductor 30.

A control knob 32 is rotatably mounted to an indicator box 34 and is directly connected to adjustable contact 18 by a cable 36.

lt is to be understood that the system can be built into new vehicles on the production line, but also is readily adapted for mounting in vehicles already in operation. ln the latter case, the installation is effected merely by disconnecting the speedometer cable and connecting casing 26 between the cable and speedometer. The casing 28 can be bolted to the vehicle fire wall, and the control knob and indicator box may be clipped to the dashboard, and suitable electrical connections made.

Fig. 3 shows the principal operating mechanism of the invention. Flyweights 38 are pivotally mounted at 40 to a shaft 42 which is driven by the speedometer cable. A plate 44 and collar 46 are slidably mounted on the shaft 42. The shaft 42 rotates in a fixed bearing 48 mounted to the housing 26.

The contact 20 is mounted to an arm 50 which is also slidably mounted on shaft 42. Au insulator 52 isolates the contact from the arm 50. A spring 54 is located between the arm 58 and fixed bearing 48 and normally urges the arm 50 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3.

Adjustable contact 18 is located in a groove 56 (Fig. 4) of an insulating member 58. The insulating member is internally threaded at 60 to receive a screw 62. Rotation of the screw 62 will cause a linear movement of the insulating member 58. The member 58 is slidably mounted in the groove 56 which is in turn fixed to the housing 26. 'i

The screw has a pinion 64 at one end thereof which is driven by a worm gear 66. The worm gear 66 is connected by a cable 36 to the control knob 32.

Although it is preferred to utilize an arrangement in which the contacts move in a linear direction, it is to be understood that the invention includes such rotary devices as fall within the scope of the claims.

In operation, the operator of the vehicle selects the speed at which he wishes to have the alarm signal operate by rotating knob 32. The pointer 68 cooperating with the scale 70 indicates the selected speed. Rotation of the knob 32 causes rotation of screw 62 and linear movement of the member 58 which carries the contact 18,

When the vehicle is not in motion, the arm 50 and contact Ztl are in their extreme lefthand position as viewed in Fig. 3. Motion of the vehicle, however, causes the rotation of speedometer cable and operation of ilyweights 38. These weights, flying out by the action of the centrifugal force, move the arm 50 through collar 46, to the right against the spring 54. Initially no electrical contact is made between the contacts 18 and 20. However, as the contact 20 moves toward the right, it will approach the contact 18 and when the preselected speed is reached, the circuit will be closed, operating the signal 12.

lt should be understood that the speed reminder is subject to considerable modification without departing from the principle of the present invention. For example, the operating parts could be mounted in a single housing adapted to be installed in the4 dashboard or to a panel xed to the dashboard. Thisadaptation would require a simple'if driving?- Tl" connectionf; inserted s. between'` the" speedometerrand'.speedon1e-tericableiwitha Ycable running from the'LTconnection:toftliefnntaryhousing tordrive the shaft at a speed proportional to the speed of the vehicle. v

mounted .onsaid rodya,springurgingsaid collar in a iirstl linearfdirectiomla Srstcontact gmounted on saidwcollar andimovablev'zlinearly yby -saidt-collarf,- .centrifugal means connectedxto saidcrodfto berotatably driven by said rod, said centrifugal means, upon rotation, moving said collar infaasecondldirectionagainstllthefaction of said spring, a secondi-contact -normally maintained-in a -Xed position and engageable by said rst contact when said rst contaotis'move'd in-saidsecond direction'to close said switch, saidsecond'contact comprisinga base of insulating material having anelongated linearchannel, a strip of electrically conducting material disposed in a portion of said channeland forming said second contact, said first contact being spring-biased to engage said base and riding in said chanel toward and away from said strip as the speed of the vehicle increases and decreases respectively, said rst contact being ridable over said strip when the speed of said vehicle exceeds a predetermined amount to close and maintain closed said switch as long as the vehicle speed is in excess of said predetermined amount, selective means for selectively alteringthe position of said second contact to vary the speedl at which the switch will o-perate comprising a screw in a linearly xed position threaded in said base, a control knobl and pointerrotatably mounted on the dashboard of said vehicle, and means connecting said control knob to said screw whereby when said control knob is rotated the screw is rotated which will move said base.

References Cited-'inthesleof this patent UNlTED STATES' PATENTS' 910,414 Perrin Jan; 19, 1909 1,634,069 Cordray June 28, 1927 2,106,643 Mellen et al Jan. 25, 1938 2,111,284 Girl et al. Mar. 15, 1938 2,538,218 l Treese Ian. 16, 1951 

